US9541506B2 - Container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers - Google Patents

Container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US9541506B2
US9541506B2 US14/626,337 US201514626337A US9541506B2 US 9541506 B2 US9541506 B2 US 9541506B2 US 201514626337 A US201514626337 A US 201514626337A US 9541506 B2 US9541506 B2 US 9541506B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
hollow body
inspection
camera
light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related, expires
Application number
US14/626,337
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20150308964A1 (en
Inventor
Wolfgang Schorn
Carsten Buchwald
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
KHS GmbH
Original Assignee
KHS GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by KHS GmbH filed Critical KHS GmbH
Assigned to KHS GMBH reassignment KHS GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SCHORN, WOLFGANG, BUCHWALD, CARSTEN
Publication of US20150308964A1 publication Critical patent/US20150308964A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US9541506B2 publication Critical patent/US9541506B2/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G01N21/9072—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents with illumination or detection from inside the container
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G01N21/9054—Inspection of sealing surface and container finish
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • G01N21/90—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination in a container or its contents
    • G01N21/9081—Inspection especially designed for plastic containers, e.g. preforms

Definitions

  • the present application relates to a container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers, and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers.
  • the present application relates to an inspection device for inspecting containers wherein the inspection device comprises at least one transport path and has at least one illumination unit, one camera and one optical structure, and wherein a transparent hollow body is provided which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a center axis, said hollow body being arranged underneath a container to be inspected.
  • Containers in the meaning of the present application are for example bottles, cans, tubes, pouches, in each case made of glass and/or plastic, and for example also PET bottles, but also other packaging means, for example those suitable for filling with liquid or viscous products.
  • Some inspection machines transport containers in a suspended manner over an illumination unit.
  • the illumination unit itself is a rectangular block which shines through the containers from below.
  • these devices are reliable and suitable, and must or should be simply be cleaned relatively often to essentially guarantee or promote reliable operation and meaningful measured values.
  • the conveyor may be illuminated from below, on which conveyor the bottles to be inspected stand, and the conveyor may be transparent and made as a turntable.
  • the contamination on the illumination unit itself is reduced, but solid and liquid adhesions on the transparent turntable itself likewise require or desire regular cleaning.
  • Some inspection devices for inspecting containers may comprise at least one transport path for transporting containers to and away from an illumination unit, an optical measuring unit and a control unit, wherein the illumination unit is enclosed by a transparent hollow body which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a center axis and the hollow body can be motor-driven directly or by suitable operative connections.
  • the hollow body is in one example a pipe which is made of a material or a mix of materials which is transparent for beams of wavelengths in the optically visible range, in the infrared range and/or in the ultraviolet range, wherein the material is at least partially transparent for these beams.
  • an internal inspection is carried out using a camera from above through the mouth of the container in the direction of the base.
  • not all of the internal areas of the container for example a bottle, can be inspected, as shown in FIG. 1 of the present application, so that not all defects or contamination F 1 and F 2 can be perfectly or substantially perfectly detected.
  • a purpose of the present application is to provide a container inspection device that addresses the inaccuracies in inspection discussed above.
  • the object is resolved by an inspection device, wherein the optical structure relative to the rotatable transparent hollow body is arranged rigidly inside the latter in such a way that the containers to be inspected can be inspected by means of the at least one camera through the container base in the direction of the mouth.
  • an inspection device is made available with which the containers, in one possible embodiment bottles, are inspected from below through the closed base. In this way, the areas which could not previously be inspected are accessible for the inspection device so that a safe and reliable statement with regard to the inspection result is possible.
  • the illumination unit shines light on the containers from outside, wherein area lighting can be used.
  • area lighting can be used.
  • a ring light illumination is also possible, which shines on the container from below in order to be able to detect defects in the base, wherein the illumination unit is then usefully arranged inside the hollow body.
  • the illumination units or light sources can differ with regard to their emitted light colors. It is useful to inspect the base by the so-called dark field method, and hence the illumination unit is accordingly located inside the hollow body.
  • the side wall inspection by means of the area lighting can be carried out by the so-called transmitted light method.
  • illumination from the inside can be useful.
  • the at least one illumination unit is arranged inside the rotatable transparent hollow body, wherein an embodiment as a ring light illumination would be beneficial which concentrically comprises the optical axis of the optical structure.
  • the illumination unit is thereby likewise arranged rigidly or in a stationary manner inside the hollow body, like the optical structure.
  • the optical structure has lens and mirror systems.
  • the mirror system or systems can also have semi-transparent mirrors.
  • Optical filters can also be arranged before the camera or cameras, which allow for the selection, for example, of certain wavelengths, colors or spectra.
  • the optical structure is arranged so that its optical axis is arranged parallel to, substantially parallel to, or intermittently congruent with the center vertical axis of the container to be inspected.
  • the containers are transported continuously past the optical structure so that, at a certain transport position, its optical axis is congruent with or otherwise parallel or substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the container. It is also useful if the container to be inspected is transported along the axial transport direction rotating about its vertical axis, which for example can be achieved with transport elements or lifting belts arranged on the side, which are at a different speed from each other so that the container is set in rotation about its vertical axis.
  • the mirrors or by means of the semi-transparent mirrors the optical light beam can be diverted, which per se is known.
  • an inspection from below means that the optical structure arranged rigidly in the hollow body is arranged underneath the container to be inspected, wherein mirrors or semi-transparent mirrors divert the light beam.
  • a camera with its optical axis can be congruent with an axis of rotation of the hollow body.
  • the camera can thus be arranged at the side next to the hollow body.
  • the camera can however also be arranged directly underneath the hollow body.
  • two cameras can be provided, of which one camera has its optical axis congruent with the axis of rotation, wherein the second camera is arranged directly below the optical structure, but outside the hollow body.
  • a semi-transparent mirror can then be used, which diverts the light beam to the camera arranged at the side and at the same time lets it through to the camera arranged underneath.
  • the rotatable transparent hollow body is made of a plastic, e.g. of PTFE or acrylic glass, or of tempered glass, wherein the materials are named naturally by way of example. It is also possible if the hollow body which can also be described as a glass cylinder is self-cleaning, for which cleaning units can possibly be used.
  • An improvement to the inspection device comprises a diffusion element being arranged between the hollow body and the upper side of the illumination unit or of the ring light illumination, wherein said diffusion element leads to a balancing of illumination means.
  • upper side of the illumination unit means the side which faces the container to be inspected or the bottle to be inspected and through which the emission occurs. The corresponding counterpart is described as the underside.
  • the diffusion element can basically be of a flat level shape, but it has turned out that it is possibly arched and arranged between the hollow body and the upper side of the illumination element, wherein the materials and the manufacturing processes are basically known for diffusion elements of this kind.
  • the diffusion element can possibly be made in an annular shape.
  • a further improvement to the inspection device can be achieved if a polarization filter is provided which possibly is arranged between the hollow body and the upper side of the illumination unit and possibly likewise has an arched and also annular shape.
  • polarization filters or circular polarization filters for inspection machines is known and is used for example to achieve a reliable detection of transparent solids, for example films, in the container.
  • Suitable polarization filters are made for example of film of polyvinyl alcohol, which can be stabilized mechanically by means of a coating of cellulose acetate butyrate on both sides. Further materials are basically known and can be used depending on the possible application.
  • a cleaning unit can be arranged which is possibly arranged underneath the illumination unit but outside the light beam of the camera optionally arranged underneath.
  • This cleaning unit can furthermore comprise a feed device.
  • the feed device has outlets or nozzles for illuminating the outer surface of the hollow body and is suitable for gaseous or liquid media.
  • the cleaning unit comprises at least one take-off device which has mechanical scrapers in the form of brushes, sealing lips made of a flexible material, or suction elements, to remove solid or liquid adhesions from the surface of the hollow body. Due to the rotation of the hollow body, the adhesions are permanently or sequentially moved from the upper side, thus out of the inspection field, in the direction of the underside. There, if there is no camera optionally arranged underneath, regardless of the measuring and inspection operation, any suitable and necessary or desired wet and/or dry cleaning can take place. If the camera optionally arranged underneath is provided, the cleaning unit is then offset from it in the circumferential section outside the light beam of the camera or of the optical structure.
  • the rotating hollow body of the inspection device can be open on at least one side for reasons of heat development and for the power supply. In this way, deposits can get into the inner surface and be transported into the inspection field.
  • An improvement therefore comprises the cleaning unit projecting in such a way onto or into the hollow body that at least solid or liquid adhesions can be removed from the outer surface of the hollow body and possibly can also be removed from the inner surface.
  • a cantilever comprising suitable scrapers, can project into the interior and carry out cleaning work there.
  • the hollow body is closed on the front side too and connected to a gas pipe, by means of which during operation as intended, an inert gas, in one possible embodiment compressed air, can be routed into the interior of the hollow body.
  • an inert gas in one possible embodiment compressed air
  • the front faces are possibly likewise transparent.
  • defects on the container base or on the bottle base can be detected which would be detected with difficulty with a pure transmitted light method in the event of an inspection from above, i.e. with a camera light beam through the mouth in the direction of the base.
  • PET cracks, the age and the wear of the container and also base fluting and imprints can be detected.
  • defects are visible which, in an inspection from above through the narrow area of the mouth, it would not be possible to inspect due to the resulting light beam. This applies in one possible embodiment for the neck and shoulder region of the container or the bottle.
  • bottle imprints can be detected so that they can be clearly excluded from a defect image.
  • a method for inspecting containers is thus covered by the present application, with at least one or more illumination units and at least one camera, wherein the camera is oriented from below onto the base of the container.
  • This can take place directly or by means of suitable mirrors.
  • the substantial factor here is that the light beam of the camera passes through the container base to detect the inner surface of the container, for the detection of contamination, defects or such like.
  • this can serve additionally or supplementally, to ascertain the position and/or geometry of the mouth of the container and thus the symmetry of the container itself.
  • the container is in one possible embodiment transported in a suspended manner, by being held clamped on lateral conveyor belts or secured in the neck area and moved by grippers or clamps.
  • this inspection method is carried out with an inspection device according to one of the aforesaid embodiment variations.
  • inventions or “embodiment of the invention”
  • word “invention” or “embodiment of the invention” includes “inventions” or “embodiments of the invention”, that is the plural of “invention” or “embodiment of the invention”.
  • inventions or “embodiment of the invention”
  • the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention.
  • the Applicant hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.
  • FIG. 1 shows an inspection device according to the prior art
  • FIG. 2 shows an inspection device according to the present application in a side view
  • FIG. 3 shows the inspection device from FIG. 2 in a view from above
  • FIG. 4 shows the inspection device from FIG. 2 with the theoretical light beam
  • FIG. 5 an image of the container's internal wall produced by means of the inspection device
  • FIGS. 6, 7 a , and 7 b show comparative images, specifically an image of the container base produced by means of the inspection device ( FIG. 6 ), and pictures of the container mouth ( FIG. 7 a ) and container base ( FIG. 7 b ) which was produced by means of an inspection device according to FIG. 1 ; and
  • FIG. 8 shows a cleaning device for an inspection device.
  • FIG. 1 shows an inspection operation according to the prior art in which, with an optical structure 1 , a container 2 is inspected through a mouth 3 in the direction of the container base 4 . It can be seen by means of the light beam 5 , drawn in generally, that shoulder areas 6 and neck areas 7 cannot be inspected. Thus, the inspection according to the prior art harbors the risk of an inadequate inspection result.
  • the defects and contamination (F 1 , F 2 ) in the areas there are shown by shading.
  • FIG. 2 shows an inspection device 8 according to the present application in a side view, whereby the inspection device 8 is shown in a view from above in FIG. 3 .
  • the inspection device 8 comprises at least one transport path 9 and has at least one illumination unit 10 , one camera 12 and the optical structure 1 .
  • a transparent hollow body 13 mounted so that it is rotatable about a center axis X is provided, wherein said hollow body is arranged underneath a container 2 to be inspected.
  • the optical structure 1 relative to the rotatable transparent hollow body 13 is arranged rigidly or in stationary manner inside the latter in such a way that the containers 2 to be inspected can be inspected by means of the at least one camera 12 through the container base 4 in the direction of the mouth 3 .
  • the optical structure 1 inside the hollow body 13 has lens systems 15 and mirrors 16 .
  • the mirror 16 is in one possible embodiment embodied as a semi-transparent mirror.
  • the hollow body 13 has a drive shaft 17 , on which a drive engages in a suitable manner.
  • a first camera 12 with its optical axis is arranged congruently with the center axis X.
  • the camera 12 arranged on the side is arranged underneath a zenith 14 of the hollow body 13 .
  • a second camera 12 is arranged, which with its optical axis is parallel to or intermittently congruent with the vertical axis Y of the container 2 to be inspected.
  • Optical filters 11 are also in each case assigned to the cameras 12 .
  • a field diaphragm 18 is also arranged between the lens systems 15 .
  • two illumination units 10 are provided, of which one illumination unit 10 a is arranged inside the hollow body 13 .
  • the other illumination unit 10 b is arranged outside the hollow body 13 .
  • the illumination unit 10 arranged inside the hollow body 13 is made as a ring light illumination 10 a , which concentrically encloses the optical structure 1 .
  • the ring light illumination 10 a too is possibly arranged rigidly inside the hollow body 13 .
  • rigidly means that the hollow body rotates about its axis of rotation X or about its center axis X, while the optical structure 1 and the ring light illumination 10 a do not rotate.
  • the hollow body 13 rotates relative to the optical structure 1 and to the ring light illumination 10 a.
  • the outer illumination unit 10 on the other hand is made as area lighting 10 b . Both cameras 12 can be held in a transparent housing in at least one possible embodiment according to the present application.
  • FIG. 3 shows the inspection device 8 in a view from above with the transport path 9 .
  • the container 2 or the bottle 2 is on a conveyor belt 20 which moves the container 2 or the bottle 2 in the direction of the arrow 19 .
  • the container 2 or the bottle 2 is already in the operating area of perpendicular or substantially perpendicular lifting belts 21 and directly before or already partially over a gap 22 which is formed between the supply conveyor belt 20 and the removal conveyor belt 23 .
  • the schematically illustrated hollow body 13 which comprises the ring light illumination 10 b and the optical structure 1 .
  • the camera 12 arranged on the side can likewise be seen.
  • the container 2 held suspended, is transported past the optical unit 1 .
  • the endlessly circulating lifting belts 21 arranged on the side are driven at different speeds so that the container 2 in the operating area of the lifting belts 21 rotates about its central vertical axis Y.
  • a cleaning unit can also be arranged for cleaning the exterior of the hollow body 13 .
  • a monitoring camera can be provided which for example inspects the outer circumference of the hollow body 13 , and, if applicable, generates a signal when cleaning is required and/or desired, which is passed on to the cleaning unit by means of a control unit (not shown).
  • the angle of vision i.e. in the case of the aperture angle of the lens likewise has an influence on the “reflection image.”
  • the aperture angle is constant or substantially constant, whereas with zoom lenses the aperture angle is variable, and thus can be zoomed in or out, so that a change of image size arises.
  • the hollow body 13 can be possible to adapt the hollow body 13 accordingly in terms of its dimensions. It could be possible if the internal diameter of the hollow body 13 were possibly selected to be at least as big or even, depending on the bottle base concavity, slightly larger, whereby said internal diameter is the free passage or, better expressed, the inactive illumination part, where the illumination unit is designed as ring light illumination 24 . Otherwise it can be that the illumination means reflect for example LEDs from the ring illumination 24 inside the smooth base area as rejects. This smooth/concave area of the container base 4 should however, because of the contrast for purposes of defect detection, remain dark/black.
  • the imprints in the middle, base fluting in the edge area, or other defects or artifacts typically base defects: chips (in German called mussels as they are generally the shape of mussels on the container or bottle base), cracks, fissures) which cause a light scatter in the base area of the container 2 , can reflect in the image to be taken with the present application.
  • base defects chips (in German called mussels as they are generally the shape of mussels on the container or bottle base), cracks, fissures) which cause a light scatter in the base area of the container 2 , can reflect in the image to be taken with the present application.
  • the internal diameter of the ring illumination 24 were selected to be not too big in relation to the container diameter, as otherwise no sufficient rejections occur in the edge area of the bottle (base fluting).
  • the active area of the ring illumination 24 can, depending on the container diameter and the distance of the ring illumination 24 to the container 2 , be designed clearly larger, limited to the maximum installation space. The active area is not quite so critical as the inactive area
  • the dimensions can for example be as follows.
  • Inactive area ring illumination min. 70 millimeters, active area 85 millimeters to 120 millimeters.
  • FIGS. 5 to 7 show real illustrations of the internal wall of a container and the container base, wherein the illustrations 5 and 6 were produced with the aforesaid inspection device and the illustrations 7 a and 7 b were produced by means of an inspection device known from the prior art.
  • the reference lines were made as black and white double arrows, which however point to the same characteristic in each case.
  • the container 2 shown in FIG. 5 has two embossings.
  • a neck embossing 25 and a belly embossing 26 which are arranged on the container 2 in positions offset by 180 degrees. It can clearly been seen here that the two defects or areas of dirt (F 1 , F 2 ) are depicted in sharp contrast despite the unfavorable position inside the container 2 , namely in the shoulder area (F 2 ) or slightly below the container mouth (F 1 ).
  • the holding belts 21 or another suitable carrier element can be accelerated or slowed down in a controlled manner by means of these data on the angular position of the embossings so that the containers 2 are released from the holding belts 21 in a desired orientation.
  • the container seam 28 can be seen as a shaded line.
  • FIG. 6 shows the base inspection carried out in parallel or offset by milliseconds using a dark light method.
  • a shard eruption 27 and the sharply contoured base corona 29 can be clearly seen.
  • the shape of the base corona 29 and its surface geometry is depicted well and can be seen well so that it can even be used as a measure for the degree of wear of a container 2 . This means that in the event of a loss of or degree of change to a pattern, the container 2 can be rejected.
  • the device is also possibly suitable for detecting an embossing and marks which are arranged very closely on the base corona, such as for example in the case of marks which are made for quality assurance reasons, but which are not to adversely affect the appearance of the container.
  • the inspection device is outstandingly suitable for detecting and analyzing the axial symmetry of the entire bottle, such as the position of the mouth 3 to the center of gravity or the center of the container base or the central seam of a plastic bottle, such as in the case of a PET bottle, to the mouth 3 or the position of the central seam of the base of a plastic bottle to the other container base or base corona 29 .
  • these inspections are carried out so to speak in parallel in one inspection stage and in a very compact inspection unit.
  • FIG. 8 shows a side view of an inspection device according to U.S. Patent Publication 2011/0102782, which is incorporated by reference herein.
  • FIG. 8 shows an example of a cleaning device for cleaning a hollow body.
  • a cleaning unit is located below the hollow body.
  • the cleaning unit includes a spray head 218 , a pump 220 , a storage container 221 , a collecting tray 222 , a motor-driven pivotable scraper 223 and a drying unit. Actuated by the evaluating and control unit 217 , the outside surface of the hollow body is sprayed sequentially by the spray head 218 by means of the pump 220 .
  • the scraper 223 Prior to this in time or at the same time, the scraper 223 , driven by the motor 228 , is moved to the surface of the hollow body.
  • the scraper 223 has double wiping lips, comparable to a windscreen wiper, and is produced from a silicone material.
  • part of the adhesion flows or drops from the deepest tube portion into the collecting tray 222 .
  • the remaining adhesions and moisture are removed by the scraper 223 and also drop into the collecting tray 222 .
  • the cleaning fluid is directed by means of a pipe line into the storage container 221 , where it is available to be used again.
  • a drying unit is located downstream of the scraper 223 in the direction of rotation, said drying unit including a hot air blower 224 , which accomplishes the final drying of the cleaned outside surface of the hollow body.
  • the compressor 225 connected to the hot air blower 224 and the associated heat unit 226 are also actuated by the evaluation and control unit 217 .
  • the surface of the hollow body can consequently be cleaned in an optimum manner. Continuously abradant elements or scrapers, which themselves result in contamination, are avoided.
  • the surface of the hollow body is monitored by the camera 227 which is downstream of the scraper 223 and of the hot air blower 224 in the direction of rotation. This corresponds to monitoring the cleaning performance of the cleaning unit.
  • the present application relates to an inspection device 8 comprising at least one transport path 9 and having at least one illumination unit 10 , 10 a , 10 b , a camera 12 and also an optical structure 1 , e.g. a mirror, wherein a transparent hollow body 13 is provided which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a center axis X and which is arranged underneath a container 2 to be inspected, such that the optical structure 1 is arranged rigidly inside the rotatable, transparent hollow body 13 , such that the containers 2 to be inspected are able to be inspected, by means of the at least one camera 12 , through the container base 4 in the direction of the mouth 3 .
  • an inspection device 8 comprising at least one transport path 9 and having at least one illumination unit 10 , 10 a , 10 b , a camera 12 and also an optical structure 1 , e.g. a mirror, wherein a transparent hollow body 13 is provided which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a center axis
  • an inspection device comprising at least one transport path 9 and having at least one illumination unit 10 , 10 a , 10 b , one camera 12 and one optical structure 1 , wherein a transparent hollow body 13 is provided which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a center axis X, said hollow body being arranged underneath a container 2 to be inspected wherein the optical structure 1 relative to the rotatable transparent hollow body 13 is arranged rigidly inside the latter in such a way that the containers 2 to be inspected can be inspected by means of the at least one camera 12 through the container base 4 in the direction of the mouth 3 .
  • the illumination unit 10 , 10 a is made as a ring light illumination 10 a which is arranged inside the hollow body 13 .
  • the illumination unit 10 , 10 a is made as ring light illumination 10 a which is arranged concentrically around the optical structure 1 inside the hollow body 13 .
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the inspection device, wherein the illumination unit 10 , 10 b is arranged as area lighting outside the hollow body 13 .
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the inspection device, wherein the illumination unit 10 , 10 a , 10 b provided is both a ring light illumination 10 a inside the hollow body 13 and also area lighting 10 b outside the hollow body 13 , wherein the container 2 to be inspected is illuminated with illumination units 10 , 10 a , 10 b of different color spectra, and wherein the container 2 to be inspected can be inspected by the dark field method and/or by the transmitted light method.
  • optical structure 1 comprises lens systems 15 and mirrors 16 .
  • optical structure 1 comprises semi-transparent mirrors 16 .
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the inspection device, wherein at least one camera 12 with its optical axis is congruent with the center axis X of the hollow body 13 so that the at least one camera 12 is arranged to the side of the hollow body 13 .
  • a further feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the inspection device, wherein the at least one camera 12 is arranged underneath the hollow body 13 .
  • Another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in a method for inspecting containers 13 with at least one illumination unit 10 and at least one camera 12 , wherein at least one camera 12 is oriented directly or by means of mirrors from below onto the base 4 , and wherein the inner surface of the container 2 and/or the position and/or the geometry of the mouth 3 and/or the container symmetry is detected through the container base.
  • Still another feature or aspect of an embodiment is believed at the time of the filing of this patent application to possibly reside broadly in the method, wherein for this an inspection device according to the present application is used.
  • EP 0 894 544 A having the title “Inspection machine for testing bottles or the like,” published on Feb. 3, 1999
  • DE 10 2005 057 872 A1 having the title “Inspection machine,” published on Jun. 14, 2007
  • EP 2 229 582 A1 having the title “INSPECTION DEVICE WITH ROTATABLE LIGHTING ELEMENT HOUSING,” published on Sep. 22, 2010.
  • DE 10 2004 051 961 having the title “Device for inspecting foreign bodies in filled container comprises vibration unit for vibrating container,” published on May 4, 2006; and DE 10 2010 018 824, having the title “Device for inspecting turbid liquids of glass bottles in beverage manufacturing industry, has illumination device for illuminating bottom portion and base surface of containers, and image recording device for monitoring base surface,” published on Nov. 3, 2011.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
US14/626,337 2012-08-20 2015-02-19 Container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers Expired - Fee Related US9541506B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102012016342.8A DE102012016342A1 (de) 2012-08-20 2012-08-20 Behälterinneninspektion von unten durch den Boden hindurch
DE102012016342.8 2012-08-20
DE102012016342 2012-08-20
PCT/EP2013/002382 WO2014029470A1 (de) 2012-08-20 2013-08-08 Behälterinneninspektion von unten durch den boden hindurch

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2013/002382 Continuation-In-Part WO2014029470A1 (de) 2012-08-20 2013-08-08 Behälterinneninspektion von unten durch den boden hindurch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150308964A1 US20150308964A1 (en) 2015-10-29
US9541506B2 true US9541506B2 (en) 2017-01-10

Family

ID=48986077

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/626,337 Expired - Fee Related US9541506B2 (en) 2012-08-20 2015-02-19 Container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US9541506B2 (de)
EP (1) EP2885630A1 (de)
CN (1) CN104662411B (de)
DE (1) DE102012016342A1 (de)
MX (1) MX339523B (de)
RU (1) RU2594604C1 (de)
WO (1) WO2014029470A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20230288344A1 (en) * 2020-07-13 2023-09-14 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for inspecting containers
US12169177B2 (en) 2019-12-17 2024-12-17 Amgen Inc. Container visual inspection assembly and method

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10207297B2 (en) * 2013-05-24 2019-02-19 GII Inspection, LLC Method and system for inspecting a manufactured part at an inspection station
CN103868932A (zh) * 2014-03-04 2014-06-18 上海东富龙科技股份有限公司 一种用于灯检机的底部检测装置
US10300510B2 (en) 2014-08-01 2019-05-28 General Inspection Llc High speed method and system for inspecting a stream of parts
JP6518911B2 (ja) * 2015-05-19 2019-05-29 キリンテクノシステム株式会社 容器検査装置及び検査方法
DE102015213352B4 (de) * 2015-07-16 2018-10-31 Krones Ag Inspektionsvorrichtung für einen Vorformling
AT518335B1 (de) * 2016-03-02 2018-03-15 Wittmann Kunststoffgeraete Verfahren zum Prüfen eines, aus Druckfolien hergestellten, spritzgussgefertigten, Behälters
DE102016209722A1 (de) * 2016-06-02 2017-12-07 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Inspektion von Behältnissen
DE102016114190A1 (de) 2016-08-01 2018-02-01 Schott Schweiz Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur optischen Untersuchung transparenter Körper
US10422755B2 (en) * 2016-12-07 2019-09-24 Applied Vision Corporation Identifying defects in transparent containers
JP6761377B2 (ja) * 2017-06-07 2020-09-23 株式会社 日立産業制御ソリューションズ 異物検査装置及び方法
DE102018126865A1 (de) * 2018-10-26 2020-04-30 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Inspizieren von Behältnissen
WO2020178758A1 (en) * 2019-03-05 2020-09-10 Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa' Cooperativa Apparatus and method for inspecting an object
CN110470234B (zh) * 2019-07-24 2021-09-21 楚天科技股份有限公司 一种灯检机摆动间隙的检测方法及灯检机
JP7007753B2 (ja) * 2020-10-29 2022-01-25 博次 亀田 容器検査装置
IT202100010865A1 (it) * 2021-04-29 2022-10-29 Etrusca Vetreria Sistema e metodo per la rilevazione di infusi in manufatti di vetro cavo
DE102022122477A1 (de) * 2022-09-05 2024-03-07 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Tragringzentrierung für Verschlussinspektion
DE102022123099A1 (de) * 2022-09-12 2024-03-14 Emhart Glass Sa Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Erzeugen einer Abbildung eines Bodens eines Glasgefäßes
DE102022132062A1 (de) * 2022-12-02 2024-06-13 Groninger & Co. Gmbh Kontrollvorrichtung, Ladesystem, Gefriertrocknersystem und Verfahren
DE102024121199A1 (de) * 2024-07-25 2026-01-29 Emhart Glass Sa Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Inspizieren des Bodens eines Gefäßes

Citations (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2173589A (en) 1985-03-18 1986-10-15 Barry Wehmiller Ltd Bottle inspection apparatus
JPH04216445A (ja) 1990-12-17 1992-08-06 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 瓶検査装置
RU2017142C1 (ru) 1991-01-14 1994-07-30 Московский институт теплотехники Устройство для контроля чистоты пустых прозрачных сосудов
US5405015A (en) * 1993-08-11 1995-04-11 Videojet Systems International, Inc. System and method for seeking and presenting an area for reading with a vision system
CN1111351A (zh) 1993-12-06 1995-11-08 埃尔帕特朗尼股份公司 对容器透明区特别是入口区的光学检查方法及设备
EP0894544A2 (de) 1997-08-01 1999-02-03 Krones Ag Inspektionsmaschine zum Prüfen von Flaschen oder dgl.
US5926268A (en) * 1996-06-04 1999-07-20 Inex, Inc. System and method for stress detection in a molded container
JP2000193606A (ja) 1998-12-28 2000-07-14 Kirin Brewery Co Ltd 壜の欠陥検査方法および装置
CN1099588C (zh) 1995-10-18 2003-01-22 海内肯技术服务公司 用于检测充满啤酒的玻璃瓶中的玻璃颗粒的方法与设备
DE10310273A1 (de) 2003-03-10 2004-09-23 Syscona Kontrollsysteme Gmbh Vollinspektion der Innenwand transparenter Gebinde
US20040263838A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2004-12-30 Diehr Richard D. Container inspection machine
CN1708683A (zh) 2002-10-25 2005-12-14 蒂阿马公司 检测容器颈环的表面缺陷或材料短缺的照射方法和装置
DE102004051961A1 (de) 2004-10-26 2006-05-04 Krones Ag Behälterinspektor
JP2006201003A (ja) 2005-01-20 2006-08-03 Hitachi Eng Co Ltd 容器内の異物検査装置
DE102005057872A1 (de) 2005-12-02 2007-06-14 Krones Ag Inspektionsmaschine
US7238930B2 (en) * 2003-01-24 2007-07-03 Nihon Yamamura Glass Co., Ltd. Inspection device for mouth of container
DE102006062575B3 (de) 2006-12-29 2008-03-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Inspizieren von Behältnisböden
WO2009056188A1 (de) 2007-10-31 2009-05-07 Khs Ag Inspektionsvorrichtung mit rotierbarer beleuchtungsumhausung
US20110025840A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Krones Ag Inspection device and inspection method for detecting foreign bodies in a filled container
DE102010018824A1 (de) 2010-04-29 2011-11-03 Krones Ag Fremdstofferkennung in abgefüllten Flaschen

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61278740A (ja) * 1985-06-04 1986-12-09 Yamamura Glass Kk 瓶検査装置

Patent Citations (23)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2173589A (en) 1985-03-18 1986-10-15 Barry Wehmiller Ltd Bottle inspection apparatus
JPH04216445A (ja) 1990-12-17 1992-08-06 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 瓶検査装置
RU2017142C1 (ru) 1991-01-14 1994-07-30 Московский институт теплотехники Устройство для контроля чистоты пустых прозрачных сосудов
US5405015A (en) * 1993-08-11 1995-04-11 Videojet Systems International, Inc. System and method for seeking and presenting an area for reading with a vision system
CN1111351A (zh) 1993-12-06 1995-11-08 埃尔帕特朗尼股份公司 对容器透明区特别是入口区的光学检查方法及设备
CN1099588C (zh) 1995-10-18 2003-01-22 海内肯技术服务公司 用于检测充满啤酒的玻璃瓶中的玻璃颗粒的方法与设备
US5926268A (en) * 1996-06-04 1999-07-20 Inex, Inc. System and method for stress detection in a molded container
EP0894544A2 (de) 1997-08-01 1999-02-03 Krones Ag Inspektionsmaschine zum Prüfen von Flaschen oder dgl.
JP2000193606A (ja) 1998-12-28 2000-07-14 Kirin Brewery Co Ltd 壜の欠陥検査方法および装置
CN1708683A (zh) 2002-10-25 2005-12-14 蒂阿马公司 检测容器颈环的表面缺陷或材料短缺的照射方法和装置
US7238930B2 (en) * 2003-01-24 2007-07-03 Nihon Yamamura Glass Co., Ltd. Inspection device for mouth of container
DE10310273A1 (de) 2003-03-10 2004-09-23 Syscona Kontrollsysteme Gmbh Vollinspektion der Innenwand transparenter Gebinde
US20040263838A1 (en) * 2003-06-30 2004-12-30 Diehr Richard D. Container inspection machine
DE102004051961A1 (de) 2004-10-26 2006-05-04 Krones Ag Behälterinspektor
JP2006201003A (ja) 2005-01-20 2006-08-03 Hitachi Eng Co Ltd 容器内の異物検査装置
DE102005057872A1 (de) 2005-12-02 2007-06-14 Krones Ag Inspektionsmaschine
DE102006062575B3 (de) 2006-12-29 2008-03-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Inspizieren von Behältnisböden
US20080158554A1 (en) 2006-12-29 2008-07-03 Krones Ag Device and process for inspecting the bottoms of containers
WO2009056188A1 (de) 2007-10-31 2009-05-07 Khs Ag Inspektionsvorrichtung mit rotierbarer beleuchtungsumhausung
EP2229582A1 (de) 2007-10-31 2010-09-22 KHS GmbH Inspektionsvorrichtung mit rotierbarer beleuchtungsumhausung
US20110102782A1 (en) * 2007-10-31 2011-05-05 Khs Gmbh Inspection device with rotatable lighting element housing
US20110025840A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Krones Ag Inspection device and inspection method for detecting foreign bodies in a filled container
DE102010018824A1 (de) 2010-04-29 2011-11-03 Krones Ag Fremdstofferkennung in abgefüllten Flaschen

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
German Office Action 10 2012 016 342.8 dated Jun. 19, 2013.
International Preliminary Report dated Feb. 24, 2015, and English translation thereof.
International Search Report PCT/EP2013/002382 dated Oct. 25, 2013, and English translation thereof.

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US12169177B2 (en) 2019-12-17 2024-12-17 Amgen Inc. Container visual inspection assembly and method
US20230288344A1 (en) * 2020-07-13 2023-09-14 Krones Ag Apparatus and method for inspecting containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2885630A1 (de) 2015-06-24
MX2015002202A (es) 2015-05-08
CN104662411B (zh) 2017-06-06
RU2594604C1 (ru) 2016-08-20
US20150308964A1 (en) 2015-10-29
DE102012016342A1 (de) 2014-05-15
MX339523B (es) 2016-05-30
WO2014029470A1 (de) 2014-02-27
CN104662411A (zh) 2015-05-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20150308964A1 (en) Container inspection arrangement for inspecting glass and/or plastic containers and a method of inspecting glass and/or plastic containers
CA2842544C (en) Apparatus and method for inspecting matter and use thereof for sorting recyclable matter
CN101918812B (zh) 具有可旋转照明壳体的检查装置
CN102555195B (zh) 检测塑料材料预制件的旋转设定的设备与方法
US9329135B2 (en) Means for inspecting glass containers for defects
US9665933B2 (en) Method and apparatus for inspecting containers, such as bottles or similar containers
JP2002529698A (ja) ガラス検査装置
JP3205511B2 (ja) シール検査装置
CN107076680A (zh) 用于对容器进行透射光检查的检查设备和方法
US8508728B2 (en) Empty bottle inspection
JP3767695B2 (ja) 空瓶の検査システム
CN100470225C (zh) 透镜检查装置及其方法
JP6409178B2 (ja) 容器の検査方法及び検査装置
CN219348671U (zh) 一种铝箔表面质量检测结构
CN107923840A (zh) 用于使用光检验瓶子和容器的系统和方法
JP2017083381A (ja) 円筒体の外観検査装置および外観検査方法
JP2025505135A5 (de)
JP2010151473A (ja) ねじ口壜の検査装置
JP6675499B2 (ja) 光学検査装置を備える液体容器ラベリング機械
JP3986534B2 (ja) 空瓶の検査システム
JPH1123414A (ja) 光透過球面形状体の外観検査装置
CN121703101A (zh) 一种管材外表面缺陷检测装置及检测方法
JP2023018757A (ja) 検査装置、検査方法、検査装置を用いた物品の製造方法、プログラムおよび記録媒体
JP2022063522A (ja) 検査装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: KHS GMBH, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BUCHWALD, CARSTEN;SCHORN, WOLFGANG;SIGNING DATES FROM 20150218 TO 20150514;REEL/FRAME:035636/0477

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20210110